As usual, we find ourselves with more weekly updates from X. This week, X’s recently updated privacy policy informed its users it would collect biometric data as well as users’ job and education history. In another section of the policy, X details plans to use the information it collects and other publicly available information to help train its machine learning and AI models. X owner Elon Musk has previously expressed ambitions to enter the AI market with another company, xAI, and that he’d use “public tweets” to train its AI models – so it’s likely the new privacy policy will help him do just that.
TikTok’s AR development platform “Effect House,” has officially exited beta. Creators can now download Effect House 3.0, which allows them to build AR effects for use in the TikTok app. After downloading, creators will join TikTok’s official Effect House community on Discord, where they can be kept up-to-date on the latest events and challenges, office hours, and connect with other effect creators. Since launching version 1.0 last year, effects made by Effect House’s community of creators has equated to over 400k, inspiring more than 21 billion videos, with around 8.6 trillion views globally.
X to allow paid political ads, lifting Twitter’s earlier ban
X has confirmed it’s lifting its ban on paid political ads, staying true to its commitment to “freedom of expression”. The company had originally banned such ads back in 2019, claiming at the time that “political message reach should be earned, not bought.” In January, X relaxed restrictions on “cause-based advertising”, but the move to lift the ban entirely appears to allow election campaigns and political groups to run advertisements in favour or against particular candidates.
Meta may offer paid subscriptions to avoid ads
Meta may allow Instagram and Facebook users in Europe to pay to avoid ads in response to European Union policies and court rulings to restrict Meta’s data-collection practices. Anonymous sources have said that paid users will not see ads in the apps, which could help Meta fend off privacy concerns and other scrutiny from the European Union.
